Seventh Premier Hockey Federation team revealed as the Montreal Force

The seventh team in the Premier Hockey Federation will be known as the Montreal Force, the league announced Tuesday.

As part of their inaugural season, the Force will play home games across Quebec. They have eyes on seven different communities that are in consideration for pre-season and regular season games: Montreal, Gatineau, Québec, Rimouski, Rivière-du-Loup, Saint-Jérôme, and Sept-Îles.

Donning a name “symbolic of the team’s energy and commitment to strength of character, community impact, and on ice ferocity,” the league said, the Force’s brand sees them carry maroon, black and white as their main colors with a primary logo shaped in the letter F that features a fleur-de-lis embedded in the crest.

“We wanted a powerful name to distinguish ourselves in this amazing hockey market and represent who we are across the women’s sports landscape,” team president Kevin Raphaël said in a statement. “We are a force, both on and off the ice, with strong and confident women who will showcase their strength in all facets from competition to community involvement. We are a family of difference makers and role models who will make our province proud.”

Sixteen players, including Ann-Sophie Bettez, have already been signed to deals — something she said is very exciting.

“Together with my teammates, we are all very excited and proud to make history as members of the Montreal Force,” said Bettez in a statement. “Putting the jersey on for the first time was a special feeling I will never forget. We are all very motivated for this season to showcase what we can do in the PHF and to represent Quebec while connecting with fans in communities all over the province.”

Bettez headlines a list of forwards that includes Kim Deschênes, Jade Downie-Landry, Catherine Dubois, Alyssa Holmes, Samantha Isbell, Alexandra Labelle, Sarah Lefort, Kristina Shanahan, and Brooke Stacey, defenders Catherine Daoust, Christine Deaudelin, Kaity Howarth, and Brigitte Laganière, plus goaltenders Tricia Deguire and Marie-Soleil Deschênes. 

The organization is expected to announce the rest of the roster and coaching staff in the coming weeks.